A six-part investigative series published by French daily Le Monde between August 24 and 29, 2025, has sparked an unprecedented diplomatic rift between France and Morocco.
The series, titled “The Mohammed VI Enigma,” examined the Moroccan monarchy after 26 years of King Mohammed VI’s rule, provoking a fierce backlash from Rabat.
Written by journalists Christophe Ayad and Frédéric Bobin, the series opened with the striking headline: “In Morocco, an atmosphere of the end of Mohammed VI’s reign.”
It portrayed the king as ailing and increasingly absent, citing his lack of presence during the September 2023 earthquake that killed nearly 3,000 people as a turning point for public opinion.
A controversial photograph from June 2025 showing him seated during Eid al-Adha prayers in Tetouan was contrasted with later images of him riding a jet ski, which the paper described as a “dual choreography” designed to conceal his true health condition.
The investigation also highlighted the alleged influence of the Azaitar brothers, mixed martial arts fighters accused of having gained privileged access to the monarch since 2018.
It explored a system of governance described as opaque and dominated by close allies, including Fouad Ali El Himma, Yassine Mansouri, and Mounir Majidi, whose €120,000 monthly salary was revealed through a leak.
Le Monde further speculated on succession plans, focusing on Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan’s increasing public role and the potential return of Lalla Salma, described as “the great unspoken part of the current transition.”
Morocco’s reaction was swift and intense.
The National Association of Media and Publishers (ANME) condemned the series as “false fiction” and “a collection of lies,” while pro-government outlets defended the monarchy by highlighting major national achievements such as the Tangier Med port and the Noor Ouarzazate solar complex.
The Royal Palace has maintained official silence, opting neither to confirm nor deny the allegations. Analysts suggest that the controversy exposes both the vulnerability and the resilience of a monarchy navigating generational change, regional instability, and growing scrutiny from international media.
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